Translating mechanism for printing



Mdy 1937- R. G. GRIFFITH I 2,080,966

V TRANSLATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING 0R RECORDING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed June 10, 1935 May-18, 1937. R. G. GRIFFITH 2,080,966 TRANSLATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING OR RECORDING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 10, 1935 m rm rafl Rana M eor e Gr? ffifll 5r A (5 I 70P/VEY" a R. G. GRIFFITH 2,080,966

TRANSLATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING OR RECORDING APPARATUS May 18, 1937.

Filed June 10, 1935 5 Shets-Sheet 4' .W i m M I N w v2 w w e wvq v: AME w m m h uw www dag J M l 3 g m c 4E a: a w a? 5m May 18, 1 937. R. G. GRIFFITH TRANSLATING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING 30R RECORDING APPARATUS 1 Filed June 10, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 //1 /vrbA PanaZdGeoryeGrif/W ATTOP/YEY Patented May 18, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRANSLATING MECHANISM FOR- PRINTING 0R. RECORDING APPARATUS Ronald George Griifith, Upper Warlingham, England Application June 10, 1935, serial No. 25,919

In Great Britain July 19, 1934 12 Claims. (01. 178-25).

connection being such that the movements of the actuating members each take. part in producing an aggregate movement of a device which selects the type character or performs'the other desired function. The object of the present invention is to provide a simplified lever system and translating mechanism embracing relatively few parts and including relatively few joints in order to avoid interference with the selection due to back-lash or other complications.

According to the present invention, the translating mechanism is formed of at least two mechanical aggregate motion systems arranged so that a registering member of each of the sys-.

tems is caused to take up one-of three or more possible positions according to different code settings, the relative positions of those registering members determining the selection of the type characters or the mechanical functions to be exercised. Each aggregate system consists of a lever linkage which includes two end levers, one

of which may be called the basic lever and is mechanically coupled at one endto a stationary part of the apparatus or has imparted to it at that end a predetermined amount of movement about its pivot during or between thetranslating operations, while the "other end 1ever,. which may be referred to as thecharacter-positioning lever, is arranged by its movements to bring different selected characters or other members -into the operative ,or displayed position; between the two end levers there is one or,morel intermediate levers, each endof which, or of each of which, is mechanically coupled to one end of an adjacent lever,-whi1e the actuating mem rs are arranged each to impart movement to th ifigizot of one of the levers of the system. 'Iherefo in the simplest form, the lever mechanism comprises two end levers and an intermediate lever. While it will be understood that any number of code elements may be employed, two such systems may conveniently be employed in dealing with a. five-element equal length code,

for one of the lever systems may be susceptible .to the movements of three of the permutation members representing three elements of 'each charactenand the other lever system maybe under the control of the remaining two. permutation members and the shiftmember. The pivots at which the impulses are appliedmay be situated at points in the levers located approximately two-thirds along the length of the respective lever towards the character-positioning end of the system. When this reduction ratio is'employed with a mechanism used to translate a five-unit code, then starting from an initial or normal position, the consecutive impulse recording members would impart motion to the character-positioning end of the lever system in approximate proportions of 7 36 and 'and if anytwo impulse recording members are operated simultaneously, then the motion available at the character-positioning end is the sum of the motions effected by the separate members operated.

A primary purpose of the invention is to enable the type members of a printing telegraph to be selected in accordance with received impulses. The invention may be applied either to printers having a type drum capable of movement along its axis as well as of being turned about itsaxis or it maybe applied to the type-bar type of printer. In the former case, one lever mechanism acting through rack and pinion and other gearing may selectively rotate the printing drum about its axis and the other lever system acting through other suitable gearing may shift the printing drum in the direction of its axis so that any one of characters located on the drum in a plurality of rings may be selected. In the case of a type bar mechanism, also two lever systems may be employed, one for selecting which of a number of actuators becomes effective and the second for selecting which of a number of type bars within the sphere of actuation of each actuator will, upon any selection, be actually operated. One system may be under the control of two elements and the other system under the control of the remaining three, while the shift permutation bar may control any'ordinary form of typewriter shift mechanism.

In order that the. invention may be clearly understood and readily carriedinto effect, some examples of the invention applied to'telegraph printi mechanisms will be described by way of ex le with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-- 1

swinging plate 2I is applied to the lever 8 at the point e about two-thirds of the way down til that lever through a connecting rod 38 and lever '39 pivoted about the spindle 2'|.' The lever B is hinged to the lever I by a pin 40 and the movement of the swinging plate 2I is imparted to the lever I at the point (1'. about two-thirds along the length of that lever through a connecting rod 4 I. Finally, the lever I at its upper end is directly connected to the rack-4. The levers 6 and I are a curved to avoid the spindle 21, similarly to the levers I I and I2. .The result is that the resultant movement of the rack 4 is an aggregate of the movements of the three permutation bars I9 I9 and 3I, as already explained.

In the modified form of linkage shown in Fig-.

ure 4, the lever 6 is made only about two-thirds of the length of the lever -I and the lever II is about two-thirds of the length of the lever I2.

Thus the points 11. and ,f at which two ofthemovements are applied are twice the distances from the opposite ends of the levers II and 6 respectively as are the points b and e. A similar result is obtained to that in Figure 1 by arranging for the movements of the points a, b, and c to be in the ratios'bf 3:324 and similarly for the movements of the points f, e, d to be in the ratios As. seen in Figures 1 and 2, the rack 9 rotates the pinion 8 and this movementresults in the with it and slidably mounted on a squared part- Mi of the spindle of the type drum I. The spindle 46 carries a star wheel 41 having as many notches as there are'type faces on'the drum I, to be the axisof the drum .I.

The movement of the pinion 3 is transmitted so as to cause the drum I to rise or fall in the direction of its axis. For this purpose the squared part 48 of the shaft of the pinion 3 carries a spur pinion 49 carried in the same supporting casting 502.5 the wheels 43 and 45 so that the pinion 49 slides with the wheels 43 and 45 along the shaft 48. The wheat 49 engages with a rack 5| slidably mounted in the same casting 50 and having a. forked end 52 engaging a collar 53 fixed to the spindle 48 of the drum I. Thus, as the pinion 3 is rotated, the rack 5I. is moved up or down and carries with it the type drum I. As a result of the combined movements of the pinions 3 and 8, the drum I is moved along its axis and is rotated about its axis until the selected type character is brought into the printing po-' sition opposite the platen 42.

The printing operation is efiected by a mem-' her, not shown, which swings the drum I and its associated cradle 54 about an axis 55 so as to bring the selected type character sharply into contact with the paper on the platen 42. During his movement there may be slight rolling of the pinions 3 and 8 on their racks 4 and 9, but the parts transmitting the motions of these pinions to the type drum I have a certain slack fit allowing of slight lost-motion so that when the typedrum I has registered in a selected position, the slight rollingin question does not cause it to move.

When the type drum I has swung back away from the paper after effecting an imprint, it is automatically moved to the right along the squared shafts 44 and 48 to provide the letter spacing operation. This is effected by a rod 55 which swings with the carriage or cradle 54 coming against the stop'bar 51- and during the further backward movement of the cradle 54 a pawl 58, which is then held against movement, co-operates with a ratchet wheel 59 so that the latter is rotated on its axis together with a pinion 60 fixed to it. The pinion 60 is engaged with a letter spacing rack GI and is caused therefore to travel along this rack towards the right and to carry with it the casting 50 which carries the gear wheels 43, 45 and 49 and the type drum I. The amount of this travel at each printing stroke is adjusted to be equal to one letter'spacing along the platen 4T.

A slightly modified arrangement for transmitting the movements of the two racks 4 and 9 to the printing drum I is shown in Figure 5. This is designed to avoid the effect of the rolling of the pinions 3 and 8 on these racks when the printing cradle 54 is swung over about the axis 55. Thepinion 8 is not fixed directly on the shaft 44 but is loose on the axle 55 and is connected to the shaft 44 through an idle pinion 82 mounted loose on a spindle 63 projecting from the'end plate of the cradle 54' and through a further pinion 64 fixed to the shaft 44. Similarly.

is thatwhen this cradle swings, the pinions 62, 64

and 65, 61, all have the same angular movement as the cradle 54 about the axis 55 so as just-to compensate for the backward rotation of the pinions 64 and 61 so that these latter do not turn on\ their axes and disturb the setting of the printing drum I.

It may conveniently be arranged for the rock-. ing movement of the .cradle 54 to operate the ink F ribbon feed mechanism for the-printing device and one example of such an arrangement is illustrated in detail in Figures 6 and 7. It will be noticed that the end plates of the cradle 54 are slightly modified in shape. The printing drum I is shown in those figures with its star wheel 41 and,.in both figures the cradle 54 is shown "swung counter-clockwise into the printing position.

The ink ribbon spindlesll l and 94- are mount- 'ed on a base plate 85. The ribbon 96 is shown as being wound off from the'bobbin on the spindle 84' around guide orjockey pulleys 91 on to the bobbin on the spindle 94 The pulleys 9'I-a're arranged so that the ribbon 96 .tends to stand away clear of the platen 42 and is only pressed lever 99 has three projections I00, IOI, I02." Each -of the projections I02 has pivoted to-it a driving pawl I03. A check or retaining pawl I04 is provided, pivoted on the base plate 95. It will be noticed that the pawls I03 and I04 on the'right,

that is, those associated with the spindle 94', are shown in engagement with the ratchet wheel 98, while in the manner described below those associated with the spindle 94 are retracted so that the latter spindle is free to allow the ribbon .to be wound off from it. When the pawls are not retracted, each pair is held up to the ratchet wheel 98 by a coiled tension spring I05. Each of the projections IOI has pivoted to it a reversing dog ms. Each projection I00 is connected by a Thus, as the type drum I is swung away from the platen 42 to theright as seen in Figure 6, these parts turn about the pivot I II so that the ribbon 96 with four of the guide pulleys 91 falls away and exposes the matter already printed which thus becomes visible. At the same time, the links I08 are moved to the right'in Figure 6 and the pawl levers 99 are rocked about the spindles 94 94. Therefore when in the position shown in Figure '7, the spindle 94 is drhzen one step clockwise so as to take up a definite length of the ribbon 95, the spindle 94 being free and allowing the ribbon to be slightly wound off from it. The dogs I06 co-operate with detents H3 which are adjustably fixed by screws to a drive-reversing bar II4 which is adjustable in length. The left hand end of the bar I I4 is shown pressing against the tails of the driving pawl I03 and check pawl I04 associated with the spindle 94 The effect of this is to force the points of the pawls away from the teeth of the ratchet 98 and to stretch the corresponding spring I05. at the right hand vment with the detents H3 by coiled tension springs I I5. There is, however, associated with each of the spindles'94 and 94 a lever II6 piv-' oted at III as is known in typewriter practice. When the ribbon is about to be wound entirely off the spindle 94, a hook engaged by its end rocks the lever II 6 clockwise about its pivot II I and its front end II8 then pushes down the forward end of the dog I06 so that, as seen in Figure '7, this end is then in position to engage with the detent H3. The next time the link I08 rocks clockwisethe pawl lever 'I MDivoted about the spindle 94 the corresponding dog I06 is pushed to theright, engages the left-hand detent H3 and pushes over the drive-reversing bar H4. The result is that at its right-hand end, it disengages the pawls I 03, I04 and stretches the spring I05., but allows the, spring I05 of the left-hand pawls I03, I04 to draw these latter into engagement with the ratchet wheel 98 on the spindle 94. Thus, at

subsequent printing operations, the spindle 94 is driven step-by-step counterclockwise and 'the' movement of the ribbon 96 is reversed and the ribbon is wound back again on to the spindle 94'.

tact with its rear surface.

In Figure 8, which shows the invention applied to the control of a type bar mechanism, the mem her 68 corresponds to the rack 4 in Figure 2, but in this case the mechanism is arranged by modification of the lever systems so that the movement of the member 68 is an aggregate of the fourth and fifth permutation bars, such as those represented, at I9 and I9 in Figure 2, with the result that the member 68 can take up four possible positions. corresponds to the rack 9 in Figure 2, its move-' ment being an aggregate of those of the first three permutation bars such as those seen at I9 I9 and I9 in Figure 2. The member 69 therefore' can take up eight possible positionsr Four bell cranks or bails I0, II, I2 and I3 are pivotedabout an axle I4 and drawn by springs 15 so as to be maintained in contact with cams I6.

The bar 68 has four notches or gates 11 and in each oi its four possible positions, one of, these notches lies opposite a bell crank I0, II, I2 or I3. Thus, as illustrated in Figure 5 the member 68 has been shifted ,so that the left hand notch I1 is opposite the bell crank I0. As the cams I6 rotate, the flat parts reach the bell cranks I0, II, I2, I3 and then the springs I5 tend to pull the vertical arms of these bell cranks forward but it is only that bell crank which is opposite the respective gate 'I'I which at that time can be moved forward, its vertical arm moving into the gate I1. bell crank I0, II,'12, I3 there is an actuator plate I8 which, when the bell crank is pulled forward by its spring -I5, thrusts forward a selector pin I9 against the action "of a coiled spring surrounding the pin. There are four of these selector pins I9 corresponding to the four bell cranks so that at each selection, one of thesepins I9 and one only is pushed forward.

It has already been mentioned that the bar 69 which carries .the four pins I9 has eight possible positions and in each of these positions the pins I9 are each brought opposite one of four'sets of hooked levers 8| of which there are eight in each set and consequently 32 altogether. Each of the levers 8| is connected through a bell crank lever 82 and a connecting link 83 to a' type lever 84 bearing'the type 85. Thus, at each operation of the mechanism by the combination of movements of the members 68 and 69, one of the type levers 84 is selected and the corresponding hooked lever 8I pushed forward by the corresponding selector pin I9. The result is that the hook 86 at the on the other hand, the member 69.

At thetop of the vertical arm of each lower end of the lever 8! in question is caused bell crank 82 is rocked and the corresponding type lever 84 actuated, the type as being brought smartlyinto contact with the paper on the platen.

' As shown, each type lever 84 bears two types and while one of these, usually an ordinary letter type, is normally in position for printing, the other, which may be a numeral or a punctuation type andso forth, can be brought into the 1. a printing mechanism comprising in combination, a pair of mechanical aggregate motion;

During the v nected to one of said aggregate motion systems to be positioned thereby, a plurality of resiliently mounted pins supported on said registering member and each located so as to register respectively with each of one of said groups of type-bars in the different positions of said registering mem-" ber, a'plurality of actuators each associated with one of said pins, power means for operating said actuators and a second slidably mounted registering member connected to the other of said aggregate motion systems to be positioned thereby and shaped to permit operation of one of said actuators only in accordance with the selected setting of said second registering member.

2. In a printing telegraph, the combination of a plurality of permutation setting bars, a plurality of rotatably mounted actuators each associated with one of said permutation setting bars, means for intermittently rotating said actuators, latching means for retaining each of said actuators and responsive to movement of the respective permutation setting bar for releasing the associated actuator for limited rotation, a pair of mechanical aggregate motion systems, connecting means for transmitting motion from certain of said actuators to one of said aggregate motion systems and for transmitting the movements of other of said actuators to the other of said aggregate motion systems, a plurality of printing characters, a registering member connected to one of said aggregate motion. systems to'be positioned thereby, a selecting device operatively connected to said registering member to effect selection of a group of said printing characters, a'

second registering member connected to the other of. said aggregate motion systems to be positioned thereby and a second selecting device operatively connectedto said second registering member to effect selection of an individual printing character from said selected group. 3. A printing mechanism comprising in combination, a pairof mechanical aggregate motion systems, a printing carriage mounted to rock about its longitudinal axis, a printing member having acylindrical type face and journalled in said carriage about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said carriage and also mounted for axial movement in said carriage, a plurality of printing characters located in superposed annular rows on said. cylindrical type face, a registering member connected to one of said aggregate motion systems to be positiond thereby, gearing interposed between said registering member and said printing member to cause axial movement thereof in said carriage to effect selection of a row of said printing characters, a second registering member connected to the other of said aggregate motion systems to be positween said second registering member and said printing member to cause rotation thereof to effect selection of an individual printing character from said selected row and a platen mounted with its axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said carriage and located in position to be struck by 'said printing member upon said carriage being rocked into the printing position.

' 4. A printing mechanism comprising in combination, a pair of mechanical aggregate motion systems, a printing carriage mounted to rock about its longitudinal axis, a printing member having a cylindrical type face and journalled in said carriage about an axis perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of said carriage and also mounted .for axial movement in said carriage, a plurality of printing characters located in superposed annular tows on said cylindrical type face, a registering member connected to one of said aggregate motion systems to be positioned thereby, gearing interposed between said registering member and said printing member to cause axial movement thereof in said carriage to effect selection of a row of said printing characters, a second registering member connected to the other ,of said aggregate motion systems to be positioned thereby, further gearing interposed. between said second registering member and said printing member to cause rotation thereof tov for supporting a length of said ribbon between said platen and said printing member and feeding mechanism for transversing said t'ype ribbon step-by-step ateach rocking operationof said carriage.

5. A printing mechanism comprising in combination, a pair of mechanical aggregate motion systems, a printing carriage mounted to swing about its longitudinal axis, a'printing member having a cylindrical type face and journalled in said carriage about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said carriage and also mounted for axial movement in said carriage, a plurality of printing characters located in superposed annular rows on said cylindrical type face, a registering'member connected to one of said aggregate motion systems to be positioned thereby, gearing interposed between" said registering member and said printing member to cause axial movement thereof in said carriage to effect selection .of a row of said printing characters, a second registering member connected to the other v of said aggregate motion systems to be positioned selected row, a platen mounted with its axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said carriage and located in position to be struck by said printing member upon said carriage being swimg into the printing position, a pair of type ribbon bobbin spindles, means for guiding type ribbon from one of said spindles to the other and for supporting a length of said ribbon between said platen and said printing member, feeding mechanism for transversing said type ribbon step-by-step at each swing of said carriage and a'reversing device for said feeding mechanism operable when the type ribbon has been withdrawn from one of said spindles.

- 6. A printing mechanism comprising in combination, a pair of mechanical aggregate motion systems, a cradle mounted to rock about its longitudinal-axis and formed with a longitudinal guide, a printing carriage traversably mounted drlcal'type faceand journalled in said carriage about an axis perpendicular to 'the longitudinal 1 axis of said cradle and'also mounted for axial gear during the intervals between successive said second rack and located in position to be point and having a pivotal connection at an inter- -mediate point thereof located approximately twonamed lever.

characters located in superposed annular rows on said cylindrical type face, a gear in driving relationship with said printing member, a rack operatively connected with said printing member and mounted parallel to the axis thereof, a registering member connected to one of said aggregate motion systems to be positioned thereby, gearing interposed between said registering member and said rack to shift said printing member axially to effect the selection of a row of said printing characters, a second registering member connected to the other of said aggregate motion systems to be positioned thereby, further gearing interposed between said second registering memher and said gear to cause rotation of said printing member to effect selection of an individual printing character from said selected row, a second rack mounted on said cradle parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof, a second gear journailed on said carriage and in engagement with said second rack, means for rotating said second nection between another of said actuators and an intermediate point in said first-named lever, a. further pivotal connection between another of said members and an intermediate point in said other lever and a registering member pivotally connected to the end of said other lever remote from the first-named lever.

the five unit equal length code, the combination of six slidably mounted bars comprising five permutation bars and a shift bar, a plurality of printing characters, a lever pivotally mounted to rock about an axis at one of, its ends,-connecting means for transmitting the movement of one of said bars to the other end of said lever, connecting means for transmitting the movement of a second of said bars to an intermediate point in said lever, a second lever pivotally mounted to rock abo'ut the same axis as said first-named lever,

of a third of said bars to an intermediate point in said second lever, a registering member pivotally connected to said second lever at the end thereof remote from its pivotal axis, a selecting device operatively connected to said registering printing impressions for effecting the letter spacing movement of said carriage along said guide and a platen mounted with its axis parallel to printing characters, a third lever pivotally mounted to rock about its axis at one of its ends, connecting means for transmitting the movements of a fourth of said bars to the other end of said third lever, connecting means 'for transmitting the movements of a fifth of said bars to an intermediate point in said third lever, a fourth lever pivotally mounted to rock about the same axis as said third lever, connecting means for transmitting the movements of the sixth of said bars to an intermediate point in said fourth'lever, a second registering" member pivotally connected to the end of said fourth lever remote from its pivotal axis and a second selecting device operatively connected to said second registering member to effect selection of an individual printing character from said selected group. 11. A' translating mechanism for telegraph apparatus comprising in combination, a plurality of mechanical aggregatemotion systems, each comprising a plurality of serially-arranged pivoted levers, a common driving motor, a plurality of struck by said printing roller upon said cradle' being rocked into the printing position.

7. A mechanical aggregate motion system comprising in combination, a lever having pivotal connections at both of its ends and at an intermediate point, means for applying a setting movement to said lever at the pivotal connection at one of its ends, means forapplying a further setting movement to said lever at the pivotal connection at the intermediate point in said lever, a second lever pivotally connected to said first lever at its other end and having a pivotal connection at an intermediate point thereof, means for applying a setting movement to said second lever at the pivotal connection at the intermediate point thereof, and a registering member pivotally connected to the end of said second lever remote from its connection to said first- 8. A mechanical aggregate motion system comprising in combination, a lever having pivotal connections at both' of its ends and at an intermediate point located approximately two-thirds actuators mounted to beintermittently rotated, along the length of said lever, means for applying means under the control of signals for intermita setting movement to said lever at the pivotal" tently coupling said actuators to said driving connection at the end furthest from said intermotor, connecting members in operative conmediate point, means for applying a further setnection with said actuators and connected to the ting movement to said lever at the pivotal conlevers of said aggregate motion systems to impart nection at said intermediate point, a second lever setting impulses to said levers, and a plurality pivotally connected to said first-named lever at of registering members each pivotally connected the end of the latter nearest to said intermediate gate motion systems, the relative positions of said registering members controlling the setting of the members to be selected. 12. A mechanical aggregate motion system comprising in combination, a plurality of seriallyar'ranged pivoted levers, a common shaft, a plurality of rocking levers pivotally mounted on said thirds along the'length of same from said firstnamed lever, means for applying a settgng movement to said second lever at the pivotal connection thereof, and a registering member pivotally connected to said second lever at the end remote from said first-named lever. V 9. In a printing telegraph, the combination of apluraity of permutation setting bars, a plurality of positively driven actuators each driven upon movement of one of said permutation setting bars, a pair of levers pivotally connected together, a pivotal connection between one of said actuators and the end of one of said levers remote from the otherlever, a second pivotal consaid rocking levers under control of received signals, a pivotal connection between each of said imparting setting movements to the latter and a registering member pivotally connected to the end of the last of said pivoted levers and operatively connected to the member to be set.

' RONALD GEORGE GRIFFITH.

connecting means for transmitting the movement,

common shaft, means for intermittently rocking 10. In a printing telegraph for operation on t member to effect selection of a group of said to the last lever of one of said mechanical aggrerockingleversand one of said pivoted levers for A.. JoNA May 18, 1937.

AIRPLANE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28, 1934 m y m w M an 034. 3 SW ATTORNEY 

